Episode 8

Adherance to Bramhachaya and importance of Purohit –

Engaging conversation of Arjuna with Angaraparna[i]

Hi! Readers, this is a story that defines the meaning of Purohit and Bramhacharya. What are the true meanings of these terms? How are they misunderstood? This story, taken from Adi Parvva of Maha Bharata, is gripping and should be read for each and everybody.

Every one of us knows that the Kauravas tried to exterminate the five Pandava brothers by putting fire to the Lak house. Pandavas escaped and after a few expeditions like their encounter with the demon, Bakasura, they proceeded towards Panchala desa (Ganges-Yamuna Doab). The night was about to set and Arjuna was leading in the front with a raised flame in his hand. There was a Gandharva by name Angaraparna enjoying with a bevy of beauties in the celestial waters of the Ganges. He heard the sound of Pandavas and was highly disturbed.

“Ordinary human beings are not supposed to disturb the peace of Asuras (demons) and Gandharvas just before the sunset as the time belonged to Yakshas, Gandharvas and Rakshasas. The dawn to dusk is the period assigned to human beings”. So Angaraparna shouted aloud and asked Pandavas to stay away from the Ganges and he would not spare anyone even if it were to be a god or an invincible human being.

Arjuna got angry and did not agree with arguments of Angaraparna. “There is no time constraint to reach the celestial waters of the Ganges or the mountain peaks of Himalayas. It can be night or it can be day. One can reach the Ganges either before food or after food[ii]. Again we are warriors and we can annihilate you by virtue of our valor and strength. As per sanatana dharma, no one can prevent anyone from touching the celestial waters which assures the abode of heaven”, Arjuna averred.

A ferocious war took place and Arjuna could easily defeat the Gandharva with powerful Agneyastra (an arrow that emits fire).Angaraparna lost his sheen and even when defeated, he praised the valor of Arjuna and sought his friendship. He offered to present Arjuna a wonderful knowledge (chakshusi vidya) by virtue of which one can see any object in any form in all the worlds. But Arjuna refused the offer and said, “You are offering a gift either without love or out of fear to save your life. So I do not like to accept it”.

But Angaraparna insisted and suggested that he can take Agneyastra in return for the Chakshusi vidya and again extended his hand of friendship. Arjuna agreed and out of curiosity asked, “We are well versed in all Sastras. We are capable of defeating enemies. Then why do Gandharvas try to fight with us when we are walking in the night?”

“Hi, Arjuna! Listen. I attacked you since you are not carrying the three fold fires (tretagni)[iii] and you have no Purohit to lead you from the front[iv] So I thought I would defeat you with ease. I attacked even though I knew the valor of your father and your lineage which is that of Kurus. I will tell you one more reason. No man on earth will like to be challenged by any other man in the presence of ladies[v]. I was with ladies and I cannot think of being challenged by you. In nights our (gandharvas) strength increases multifold and even then you had defeated me”.

Arjuna was listening the words of Angaraparna. Angaraparna continued, “Now I can tell the reason as to why you could able to defeat me in the battle. You are in Bramhacharya[vi] and that gave you the strength. Any Kshatriya indulging in worldly and sensuous pleasures cannot defeat a Gandharna in nights. Your energy lies in your dharma and in your steadfast adherence to dharma of Dina Carya (Daily activities of a dharmic human being)”.

Angaraparna continued, “I will tell you one more important thing. Even if a king indulges in sensuous pleasures he can defeat the demons if he engages a Purohit for advice. So a king desirous of victory in wars should have a Purohit[vii].

A purohit should be dexterous in Vedas, cultured and of impeccable character, adherents of truth, embodiment of dharma and above all they should have conquered their sensuous pleasures[viii]. For attaining the unattainable and for preserving the existing things, a king should have a purohit in the front. Without the help of Purohit, no king can attain name and fame in this earthly world”.

Arjuna agreed with the view point of Angaraparna and they became good friends from then onwards. After bidding farewell to Angaraparna, Pandavas approached Dhaumya, an embodiment of truth and equanimity and requested him to be their Purohit. He agreed to lead Pandavas and they felt immense strength and psychological satisfaction for achieving their further endeavors.

Points to Ponder

1. Do you think that the spiritual strength represented by Bramhacharya has greater potency than the physical strength?
2. What is the importance of ‘Spiritual Master’ (Purohit) in our lives?
3. What should be the qualities of a ‘Spiritual Master’? How do you identify a real ‘Spiritual Master’?
4. How presence of woman make a man pride and egoistic? What psychological insights Maha Bharata is offering and how true are they even today?

In this story a fight took place between two warriors and a discussion took place to justify their ideologies before fighting. What dharmic virtues can we imbibe in today’s wars and animosities in the houses and workplaces?

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Footnotes

[i] This story is taken from Adi Parva of Maha Bharata written by sage Ved Vyasa.

[ii] भुक्तो वाप्यथवाऽभुक्त: रात्रावहनि खेचर 

न काल नियमोह्यस्ति गंगां प्राप्य सरिद्वराम् - Adi Parva 169.17

bhukto vāpyathavā'bhukta: rātrāvahani khecara

na kāla niyamohyasti gaṃgāṃ prāpya saridvarām

[iii] Tretāgni (त्रेताग्नि)- As per vedic tradition the people belonging to the three varnas were supposed to possess three fires. According to Manusmriti, the three fires are Garhapatya, Dakshinagni and Ahavaniya and they are compared with father, mother and teacher respectively.

पिता वै गार्हपत्योग्निर्माताग्निर्दक्षिणा स्मृता |

गुरुराहवनीयस्तु साग्निस्त्रेता गरीयसी – 231

pitā vai gārhapatyognirmātāgnirdakṣiṇā smṛtā |

gururāhavanīyastu sāgnistretā garīyasī

The father represents the Garhapatya fire, the mother the Dakshinagni, and the teacher the Ahavaniya fire; this triad of fires is most venerable.

In Hindu tradition one should carry the three fires always. In some other place in Maha Bharata, we find Pandavas handing over the agnis to their Purohit Dhaumya before going incognito for one year in Virata’s kingdom. The tradition is slowly dying even in traditional families and majority of Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z children have not even heard of them.

त्रिष्वप्रमाद्यन्नेतेषु त्रील्लोलोकान् विजयेद्गृही 

दीप्यमानः स्ववपुषाः देववद्दिवि मोदते -232

triṣvapramādyanneteṣu trīllolokān vijayedgṛhī

dīpyamānaḥ svavapuṣāḥ devavaddivi modate

He who does not neglect those three agnis (fires), (even after he has become a householder), will conquer the three worlds and, radiant in body like a god and he will enjoy the bliss in heaven.

[iv] अनग्नयोऽ नाहुतय: न च विप्र पुरस्कृता:

यूयं ततो दर्शाता: स्थ मया वै पाण्डु नंदना: (Adi Parva 169.60)

anagnayo' nāhutaya: na ca vipra puraskṛtā:

yūyaṃ tato darśātā: stha mayā vai pāṇḍu naṃdanā:

[v] स्त्री सकासे च कौरव्य न पुमान् क्षन्तुमर्हति 

दर्शनामात्मन: पश्यन् बाहुद्रविणमाश्रित:- Adi Parva 169.68  

strī sakāse ca kauravya na pumān kṣantumarhati

darśanāmātmana: paśyan bāhudraviṇamāśrita:

[vi] Bramhacharya is normally equated with celibacy or non indulgence in swex. But the meaning is something above from the common usage of the word by lay men. Bramhan denotes the Supreme being or Atma. One who dwells (charati) in Bramhan is Bramhachari. One who is in the path of Bramhan is said to be in Bramhacharya.

[vii] Purohit- Normally people equate Purohit with priest. But Purohit denotes something high. One meaning is: puras meaning "front", and hita, "placed". He leads the king from the front. He leads by virtue of his steadfastness to Truth and Dharma. For easy understanding, the current National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval is the Purohit for the Indian Government. By virtue of his spiritual aura, the enemies fear to attack the king. The second meaning is पुरे हितं करोतीति- पुरोहित: which means one who does hitam or good in the village is Purohita.

[viii] These are the qualities of a person to claim as Purohit (Adi Parva169.75)

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